AMS PSR

On behalf of the MOD, we are looking for a Lead Finance Business Partner (Inside IR35/PAYE) for a  contract Until May 2026 (potential extension) based in Corsham Minimum 1 day per week 

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is a central government department with a mission to protect our country and provide the ultimate guarantee of its security and independence, as well as helping to protect its values and interests abroad.

To do this we have an annual budget of almost £40 billion and a workforce comprising 193,000 people, almost 59,000 of whom are civilians. We currently manage more than £11 billion of spend every year.

Our work really matters; we offer engaging roles which have a direct impact on the quality of services we provide. We employ people in many different roles and in many locations across the UK and abroad. We have jobs in policy, finance, HR, IS/IT, commercial and project management and all the types of jobs you would expect to find in a government department, or indeed in the private sector. We also employ doctors, dentists, teachers, police, fire service, quantity surveyors, and engineers to name a few. There are many opportunities to develop and progress both within MOD and across the wider Civil Service, whether you’re a permanent appointee or an interim.

The SKYNET Finance Business Partner plays a crucial role in approvals, cost models, contract planning, and negotiations within the £6Bn SKYNET programme, which has exposure up to Ministers. Integrated within the business team, the Finance Business Partner collaborates closely with Programme Management and Commercial colleagues to ensure the effective delivery of the SKYNET portfolio.

This role involves working on high-value procurements and leading the approvals of complex and frequent business cases, which are prioritized in Defence. The ideal candidate must thrive in a high-pressure environment.

As a Lead Finance Business partner your main responsibilities will be:

• Provide wide perspective and influence the strategic direction of the business, ensuring there is a proactive approach to long-term planning, acting as a critical friend to support and challenge.
• Encourage innovation and problem-solving within the business.
• Fully embed within the business, building relationships with key partners and being a member of the leadership team working with grades of SCS1* and below, and collaborate closely with other functions for a joined-up approach.
• Produce bespoke management information (MI) to support senior briefings, often on an ad hoc and reactive basis.
• Provide advice and guidance to ensure adherence to MOD and HMT policies, such as JSP462 and Managing Public Money, highlighting novel and contentious issues.
• Support the business in following the approvals process, review mid-high value business cases, and undertake approvals scrutiny focusing on economic and financial cases
• Assist the business in undertaking and reviewing costings, providing innovative solutions, adhering to standards, gathering costing data, monitoring trends, and building a repository of cost data to assist with ongoing business.

Essential:

• Senior Stakeholder engagement skills
• Experience in Providing Strategic advice and guidance
• Reviewing contracts/Bids through a Finance lens
• Active SC Clearance Essential

Desirable:

• Previous MOD experience

Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not Overseas.

Disability Confident 

As a member of the Disability Confident Scheme, the MOD guarantees to interview all candidates who have a disability and who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of candidates who have a disability who meet all the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group. This scheme encourages candidates with a disability and/or neurodivergence to apply. In exceptional circumstances, we may also need to apply the desirable criteria in our shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.

Armed Forces Covenant / Commitment

MOD guarantees to interview veterans or spouses / partners of military personnel who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of ex-military candidates / military spouses or partners, who meet all of the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group. In exceptional circumstances, we may also need to apply the desirable criteria in our shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.

In applying for this role, you acknowledge the following “this role falls in scope of the Off Payroll Working in the Public Sector legislation. Any rates of payment quoted will reflect the gross rate per day for the assignment and will be subject to appropriate taxes and statutory costs. As such the payment to the intermediary and your income resulting from this contract will be different.